A refreshingly cool journey from Bangalore to Coorg!!!

Everyone would have heard of the maxim, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. Yeah, it’s cent percent true. After so much of non-sensible work at office, we had planned for a trip to Coorg, quite a few times which went futile. After so many hiccups, finally one of our plans came true; we started for a trekking trip to the highly refreshing and energizing natural coffee estates of Coorg Valley.

Here we go! Here we go! :):) The clock struck 3am, on Dec 3rd, 2010.Cock-a-doodle-do!! :) There we started enthusiastically, imagining the nerve-chilling coffee plantations of Coorg. We started proceeding through the Mysore road, sneaking our heads out of the cab, every now and then, to get a feel of the early morning freshness. Finally, it was time for a short break, breakfast time:):) We had stopped by a highway restaurant and had our breakfast along with some Buddhist saints loitering in that restaurant... Click!! Click!! The camera shutters, blossomed open for the first time, and remained for the next two days.

Again, we had started travelling towards Coorg. After a tiresome journey and there the cab stopped before a narrow lane, lowering so steeply, and we had started enquiring about the much awaited whereabouts of “Civet Creek camp” , the resort where we had plan to linger on for the next two days. The resort owner was waiting for us, to guide us to the Civet creek. At one point, the cab stopped as it can’t go any further, as we all started walking into the dense miraculous forest-like nature... Yahooooo!! Hoo Hoo!! Nature at its marveling best.. :):) “Nurture the nature for our posterity”!! Now, we all had understood the marvel of greens and greenery. By the time, we walked through the narrow pathway for about 15 minutes; we had the first look of our temporary home for the next day or two, the resort called “Civet creek” camp. Such is the power of the amazing creation of God that we were almost addicted to the place, and had the feel that we had already stayed there for a fortnight or so. The “William Wordsworth” and “Robert Frost”, hidden in myself started to fly and linger around, unable to control the happiness and fullness. :):) The hospitality and warmth of Uncle and Aunt of the resort, and the home made food much to the surprise of all of us, made us to dwell in Civet Creek, thoroughly with heart and soul. :):)

After a delightful luncheon, we had some kinds of play, an hour of volleyball or so, followed by cricket and then some shuttle. Since these games are common and can be played anywhere, I’m not digging deep into it. Somehow, it was much cooler to play these games amidst nature, and among friends. What more do you need in life? After some mind boggling play, we had some hot tea, and a small session of gossiping. Remember, all the cameras are with open shutters all the time, clicking, clicking and capturing to heart’s content.

Then it was twilight time for a trip to the estates whatever let it be, call it estate or forest. We had all our jerkins on, as temperature started to dip and dip and started towards forest with torches in hand. It was our first adventurous trip in Coorg with all the talks about wild life, say elephants etc among us. We were back to Civet creek around 7.30pm in the night. Time away from the hustle and bustle of this sedentary life at city, there was the other side of it, the most calm, nerve-wrecking chillness of the mountains of Coorg.

At around 8.30pm in the, we had a great “camp fire”, had a great time playing some funny games. The children in us, started to bloom and adults in us faded away. “Soup” and chicken was served to us, during campfire. When the fire was about to go out it was already time for dinner, nature feeding our eyes and heart and the home food, feeding our appetite. :):):) Then we had a taste of the famous Coorg Coffee.

At night we all had to sleep in “tents” of the resort, with only lanterns around to our aid. Just imagine. :):)There’s no proper electricity, meaning no proper charging facility for phones and cameras, still it was the most adventurous and fulfilling night. With all the jerkins, scarves, and socks around, we tried to make ourselves as warm as possible inside the coveting tents. Every one of us slept couching ourselves inside the tent.

At around 5.45am in the morning, we had only wakened to see the most chilling experience in our life. The cool breeze, the morning dew, almost everything was wet even our shoes, socks and stockings, with dew around, poor visibility due to the butter-colored mist, there we had a rope-walk in the early morning, bone-chilled ourselves. Cameras could cover hardly anything but mist. Just say the most romantic weather all around. :):) There we had went inside the coffee plantations, 5 minutes into it, we found ourselves in the middle of a small crystal-clear stream nearby. The water was so clear, that the multi-colored pebbles are clearly visible beneath 2-feet stream water. It was déjà vu, for me a dream come true :):)

After taking a refreshing bath in some hot water, and feeding ourselves with a hot breakfast, we started our trip to a nearby cascading waterfall. The trek to the cascade was the most adventurous trip, as we were bound to overcome some insects, leeches, etc. :) Every now and then, one or the other friend would have been bitten by leech, and we stopped then and there, to make a surgery to the leeches with lemon juice.. :):):)The first view of the cataract was most astounding, eye-catching and breath-taking one. At first, I never had any idea to get wet in the waterfall, as it was utter chill. But at the first view of it, and some first and fast moving enthusiasts within our gang, without a speck of doubt; we thought we would miss some of the exciting moments of our life, if we don’t drown ourselves in this pure water. As we slowly went to pose ourselves in front of the cascade, the water ran deep chill into us, as we were almost drowned in it. Had quite a nice play, sprinkling the ice-cold water on other friends. We had enjoyed in the water for almost an hour, and then started our way back, downhill. It was the most tiresome journey, nostalgic, longing for more and more. !!! :)

By the time of finding our way to cab, everyone was damn tired physically, but most refreshed mentally, with solemn peace of mind. Three Cheers to the wonderful organizers.. :):):)

Hope you guys had a small fascinating trip to Coorg, by reading this small work of mine. This was the end of journey of one of the more romantic places in the world.. :):):)

Nostalgic!!! Cheers mate!!! Keep rocking!!! :):):)